The Holiday Debut Tour

December 12, 2015

Christmas is just around the corner! Yay! Today I am all Christmas-y here as I join the Holiday Debut Blog Tour. This tour showcases three different patterns from three different designers that debuted this year: Holli of Hello Holli, Gabriela of Chalk and Notch and Saskia of The Wolf and The Tree. These ladies did an amazing job with their first pattern! I am in awe.I had the chance to test the Blue Ridge dress and the Fishtail Kimono a few months ago and now I have sewn up Abby's Tights. All I can say is that I absolutely love these patterns! I can't wait to see what their next patterns are! The bar is set high, ladies! :) (No pressure intended, ha!)

Blue Ridge dressThe Blue Ridge Dress is a pattern by Hello Holli, and you can find it here.It can be made of light to mid-weight wovens but some people already made it in knit with success! It is available in sizes 12 months to 14 years. The first version I made (the testing version) was made in a dreamy soft viscose (rayon challis) and you can see it here, along with all the details about this pattern.This time I picked a warmer fabric for the colder days ahead. It is a double sided double gauze with a flannel touch. It so, so soft! It was offered to me as a birthday gift by the über talented Andreia of In a Manner of Sewing blog. I used a glittery silver bias tape. It was actually piping that I had on my piping stash (humm, yes, I have a piping stash, along with a lace stash and a bias tape stash, in every color and print available. :) ). I had to unpick it (dreadful task, I can tell you...) and take off the cord. I think it was the perfect color accent to add to the dress since it matches on the tones on the fabric and it goes so well with blue and all the Christmas-y feel!That ruffled collar is not part of the original pattern but you can make too, it's super easy! Here's a quick tutorial on how to make this ruffled collar:(No images though, sorry! I'll add them later.)1- Measure your neck opening (front and back)2- Cut a strip of fabric that is: about 2x that (width) by about 2x 3'' to 3.5'' (length) This one was cut as a 38'' (width) by 7'' (length) strip.3- Fold in half right sides together, length wise (along the longest side). Stitch both (short) ends on both sides with a 1/4'' seam allowance. Clip the corners and turn inside out. Press.4- Gather the open (long) edge. I use two rows of a long length stitch. 5- Place on top of the neck opening, joining the edge of the collar with the edge of the neck opening. Stitch at 3/8''. 6- Sew bias binding to hide that seam.

Fishtail Kimono

The Fishtail Kimono is a pattern by Chalk and Notch, you can find it here.It can be made out of both knit and woven. It is available in sizes 18/24 months to 12 years.I used some sort of a etamine/jacquard knit that I found at my local fabric store (Feira dos Tecidos), in the remnant/end of bolt bin. When I bought I had no idea where/how to use it but when I was picked to test this pattern it was an ah-ha!! moment! I knew it would be perfect for this.This is a super quick sew and yet it is such a great pattern! An amazing design... I have seen lots of them popping on the blogosphere and I love them all! You can get so many different looks depending on the fabric you use and how you style it (a dress or with leggings and a shirt!).

Abby's Footed Tights

The Abby's Footed Tights is a pattern by The Wolf and The Tree, you can find it here.

I can now scratch "make tights" off my New Techniques and Things to Sew list. :) It was much easier than I thought at first! And again, a quick sew. I used a 4-way cotton-lycra knit and my work horse (aka sewing machine) handled it perfectly. I wanted to add a cute detail to it, so I hand sewn a few white pom poms on both sides. It turned out lovely, don't you think? :) This pattern is available on sizes 0-3 months up to 14 years!It is a good thing that my knit stash is huge because I foresee many of these tights on both of my girls wardrobe, in all colors and prints. :)

Here is the bloggers line up for this tour! Make sure to stop by to see what these talented ladies did with all 3 patterns! A.m.a.z.i.n.g! You can also look for the hashtag ‪#‎holidaydebutblogtour‬ on Instagram.

All of the patterns for this tour - the Fishtail Kimono, the Abby's Footed Tights & the Blue Ridge Dress - will be on sale during the duration of the tour for 20% off!! Use coupon code: HOLIDAY. Don't miss the chance!Happy Sewing!

This might be my favorite Blue Ridge Dress! That fabric is AMAZING (I need to get on Andrea's birthday present list haha) and the details are perfect. The whole thing is super cute and those little pompoms on the tights are the perfect touch! Love!!